Who is next in line for the role of the Doctor?

IT'S anyone's guess just who will land the top job on television.

Everyone is trying to work out who will succeed David Tennant as the next Doctor after he revealed he was going to quit the show.

Bookmakers have made 44-year-old Patterson Joseph the favourite, who, if successful, would be the first black Doctor.

A host of well known names have also been thrown into the ring with Cold Feet star James Nesbit and Sean Pertwee (son of a former Doctor himself) touted as taking the keys to the Tardis.

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Russell Tovey is also in the mix after Swansea-born Doctor Who writer Russell T Davies tipped the young star, who has already appeared in the show, as being a candidate back in September.

The Swansea writer is on cloud nine after watching the show he brought back to our screens win another armful of gongs at the National TV Awards.

The show picked up an award for most popular drama, while Tennant scooped the outstanding drama gong.

Speaking exclusively to the Post, Davies said he was pleased to have beaten the competition.

"It's fantastic — we've swept the board," he said.

"The show's won the serial drama award four years in a row and the Doctor has as well, so it's great.

"The whole team is chuffed."

He also paid tribute to the current Doctor.

He said: "I've been lucky and honoured to work with David over the past few years — and it's not over yet, the 10th Doctor still has five spectacular hours left.

"After which, I might drop an anvil on his head. Or maybe a piano. A radioactive piano.

"We're planning the most enormous and spectacular ending."

Mr Davies was joined on the red carpet at London's Royal Albert Hall by Catherine Tate — who was up against Tennant in the outstanding drama performance category. Gavin and Stacey stars Ruth Jones and Larry Lamb also graced the red carpet, alongside TV presenter Gethin Jones.

But yesterday's headlines focused on Tennant's shock announcement.

He spoke to the awards audience via live TV link-up from Stratford-upon- Avon, where he is currently appearing on stage as Hamlet.

He said: "I've had the most brilliant, bewildering and life-changing time working on Doctor Who.

"I'd always thought the time to leave would be in conjunction with Russell T Davies and BBC's head of drama Julie Gardner, who have been such a huge part of it all for me."

He will continue as the Doctor for next year's four specials — including a Christmas show — before handing over the role.